Switch



Oct. 2, 1928.-

J. B. MILANO SWITCH Filed March 50, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR 1/0/111 fi M70110 ATTORNEY Oct. 2, 1928. 1,686,289

J. B. MILANQ SWITCH Filed March 30, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORJo/212 M! ((120 Patented Oct. 2, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SWITCH.

Application filed March 30, 1925. Serial No. 19,393.

This invention relates to electric switches I of the enclosed protectedtype, and more particularly to a switch box having a switchoperating armextending out of said box.

One object of this invention is to provide an enclosed switch box of theabove nature adapted to interchangeably receive the plug type andcartridge type of fuses.

A further object is to provide an enclosed switch box provided with aprotective partition or sealing plate arranged to permit the insert-ionand removal of fuses without possibility of injury to the operator bycontact with the switch mechanism.

A further object is to provide a switch box of the above nature having aquick-throw double-pole switch adapted to be swung in a single planeparallel to the base of the switch.

A further object is to provide a device of the above nature which willbe simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, easy to installand manipulate, compact, ornamental, and very eflicient and durable inuse.

"With these and other, objects in view, there have been illustrated onthe accompanying drawings, two forms in which ,the invention may beconveniently embodied in practice.

Fig. 1 represents a perspective view of the switch box shown in openposition.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal bottom sectional view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same taken along the line33 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the fuse-holding block adapted to receive apair of fuses of the plug type.

Fig. 5 isa side view, partly in section, of the fuse-holding block shownin Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of another form of fuse-holding block adaptedto receive a pair of fuses of the cartridge type.

Fig. 7 is a side view, partly in section, of the second form of fuseblock shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view showing the electric wiring connections ofthe switch box. Fig. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of a portion ofone end of the switch box, showing one of the locking latches forpreventing an authorized persons from tampering with the switch.

In electric light installations, it has been customary in the past toemploy a plurality of separate switch boxes in each power-consuminglocation, i. e. an entrance switch box connected directly to the citymains, and a" switch box or fuse-holder for each different branchcircuit. By means of the present invention, it is no longer necessary toemploy a plurality of switch boxes, but an improved type of switch boxhas been produced which will not only control the current from the mainline, but also will provide fuse protection and current control for eachbranch'circult;

Referring now to the drawings in which like reference numerals denotecorrespond-' ing parts throughout the several views, the switch boxherein illustrated comprises an outer casing 10 open at the top andhaving a .cover member 11 hinged to the rear of said casing. The covermember 11 is provided with a spring catch 12 adapted to resiliently 7engage a lug 13 on the front of the casing.

In order to permit the switch to be operated from the outside of thecasing, the front and rear of said casing are provided with pairs ofelongated slots 14 through which an operating handle 15 is adapted tointerchangeably extend.

As is clearly shown in Fig. 3, the switch and fuse mechanism is adaptedto be supported upon a rectangular base 16 of any suitable insulatingmaterial, such as porcelain, said base 16 being located well within thecasing walls so as to leave adequate space for the conducting wires andto provide for proper circulation of air to prevent overheating. Theporcelain base 16 is provided in its top face with a pair of recesses 17and 18 within which are fitted the bases of a pair of Z-shapedconnecting members 19 and 20' respectively. The bases of said connectingmembers are secured in said slots 17 and 18 by bolts 21 and 22 havingnuts 23 threaded on the top ends thereof, said bolts having their headsseated in recesses 22 in the bottom of the porcelain base 16.

Electric current is fed into the switch box from the-main line through apair of conducting wires 24, and said wires 24 are joined to theZ-shaped connecting members 19 and .20 by means of binding screws 25 and26.

The top arm 27 of each of the Z-shaped connecting members 19 and 20 isarranged parallel to the base 16 and has pivoted thereto a switch blade28 which is constructed from a pair of metal strips 29 and 30. Thestrips 29 and 30 of each pair have their extremities located above andbelow the upper arms of said Z-shaped connecting members 19 and 20, andare joined to said members by rivets 31 having heads 32, suitablewashers 33 being provided on said rivets, outside of said strips 29 and30. The free ends 34 of the metal strips 29 and 30 are spaced apart, andare adapted to resiliently embrace the contact arms 35 of a pair ofZ-shaped stationary contact members 36, respectively.

In order to strengthen the switch blades, rivets 37 are provided nearthe free ends thereof for rigidly uniting; the metal strips 29 and 30.The switch blades are connected to one another and caused to move inparallelism by means of a link member 38 comprising a pair of connectedstrips of insulating material, said link member 38 being joined to saidswitch blades by a pair of rivets 39.

In order to move the switch blades about their pivots, an operatinglever40 is provided, said lever having one end 41 bifurcated for embracing anupstanding pin 42 on the central portion of the link member 38. Thelink-operating lever 40 is fulcrumed on a post 43 projecting up from theporcelain base 16, and said lever 40 has an enlarged apertured arm 44for receiving the end of the switch handle 15, previously mentioned.

In order to detachably secure the handle 15 in either of its right orleft hand positions relative to the base 16, said handle is providednear its inner end with a small hole for receiving a cotterpin 46. Thisconstruction is of advantage in case one side of the casing must belocated in proximity to a wall or obstruction.

In order to limit the motion of the switch blades in off position,provision is made of a pair of upstanding insulating stops 47, saidstops being secured in any suitable manner to the porcelain 16.

The stationary contact members 36 have flat base sections 48 seated inslots 49 and 50 formed in the porcelain base 16, said slots beinglocated under a pair of upstanding tubular neck members 51 formedintegral with said porcelain base, as clearly shown in Fig. 3.

In order to form sockets for detachably receiving the forward ends ofeither of the forms of fuse block 52 and 105 to be hereinafter morefully described, each of said neck members 51 has a U-shaped socket orclip 53 seated therein, each of said clips 53 comprising a pair ofoppositely disposed semicylindrical upper sections 54 and a flat base55. The bases 55 of said clips are adapted to be secured to the basesections 48 of the stationary Z-shaped contact members by nuts 56threaded on the tops of headed bolts 57, the heads of said bolts beingseated in recesses 58 in the bottom of the base 16.

The bolts 56 are connected to metal strips 59 and 60 which passrearwardly and upwardly through the porcelain base 16 and terminate inbinding posts 61 and 62 respectively. The binding posts 61 and 62 areprovided with binding screws 63 for attachment to a pair of conductingwires 64 and 65 leading to one of the branch circuits to be controlledby the switch.

The porcelain base 16 is secured to the bottom of the casing 10 in anysuitable manner, as by means of bolts 66 and 67, the heads of said boltsbeing seated in recesses 66* and 67*. In order to'support the rear partof either of the fuse blocks 52 or 105, a pair of tubular neck members68 and 69 are integrally formed in the porcelain base 16, said neckmembers being similar in all respects to the neck members 51, and beingadapted to-similarly enclose a pair of U-shaped clips 70, said clipsbeing similar in all respects to the U-shaped clips 53, previouslydescribed.

The clips 70 are adapted to be connected to a pair of short metallicstrips 71 by means of nuts 72 screwed upon the tops of bolts 73, thelatter being seated in sockets 74 in the bottomof the base member 16.The strips 71 are adapted to pass through slots in the rear of the neckmembers 68 and 69, respectively, and terminate in binding posts 75seated in re cesses 76 communicating with the rear edge of the basemember 16. The binding posts 75 are connected to suitable conductors 97leading to the second of the above-mentioned branch circuits.

In order to more securely hold the strips 71 to the base 16, nuts 77 andbolts 78 are provided, the heads of said bolts being located in recesses79 in the bottom of the base section 16.

In order to present smooth unobstructed top and bottom surfaces, therecesses 22, 66, 67?, 58, 74, and 79 of the porcelain base 16 arepreferably filled up with wax or other suitable filling material.

The construction of the plug fuse block 52 for protecting the two branchcircuits will now be described. This plug fuse block, as best shown inFigs. 3, 4, and 5, comprises a base 80 and a pair of hollow socketmembers 81 integral therewith, and is preferably constructed ofporcelain. The socket members 81 form housings for a pair of screw shellcontacts 82 adapted to receive fuse plugs 83. The bases of said fuseplugs 83 have center contacts 83 which engage the heads 84 of a pair ofbolts passing through the base 80 of the fuse block 52. The bottom endsof the bolts 84 are connected to a pair of metal strips 86 by nuts 87,said nuts being located rear of the switch base 16.

The screw shell contacts 82 are insulated from the bolt heads 84 by apair of insulating washers 89, and said shell contacts are secured tothe body of the fuse block by a pair of short bolts 90 and nuts 91screwed on said bolts, said bolts being housed in Wax filled recesses92. The screw shells 82 are electically connected to a pair of metalstrips 94 located on the other side of the fuse block from the strips86, described above.

The strips 94 are located in recesses 95, and are provided with pointedprongs 96 similar to the prongs 88, said prongs 96 being adapted toengage in the clips 53 previously described.

It will be understood that if desired, suitable electrical measuringmeters, not shown, may be located in either of the branch circuits or inthe main line circuitwithin the scope of the invention.

In order to provide a locking flange to prevent removal of the fuseblock 52, said block has adepressed shoulder 99 around its rectangularperiphery, saidshoulder being engaged by the edges of a rectangularaperture formed in a sealing late or partition 98.

The outer edges of said sealing plate 98 are supported upon lugs 100,said lugs being pressed inwardly from the metal of the easing 10.Adjacent each of the lugs 100 and above the plate 98 is a locking latch101 pivotally connected to the sealing plate by rivets 102, said latchhaving an aperture 10.2 for receiving the wire 103 of an inspectors seal104.

When it is desired to lock the sealing plate 98 in position above theorcelain switch base 16, the latches 101 will e rotated into alinementwith the pressed-out lugs 100, and the inspectors seal 104 passedthrough the aperture 102 of one of the lugs 101. To unlock the sealingplate, the operations just described must be reversed.

The construction of the cartridge fuse block shown in Figs. 6 and 7 willnow be described.

This fuse block is designated by the numeral; 105, and has two pairs ofU-shaped cartridge fuse-holding clips 106 on its top face, said clips106 being connected at each end to a pair of ointed prongs 107 by meansof bolts 108 an nuts 109 threaded upon the tops of said bolts, saidprongs 107 being entirely similar to the prongs 96 of the plug fuseblock 52.

By means of the above construction, it will be appieciated that thepresent invention provides a switch box in which either plug fuses orcartridge fuses may be employed at will.

In some installations, it'may be found de-' sirable to reverse theposition of theswitch base 16 in the casing 10 Without detaching thecasing from the wall. For this purpose, the walls of the casing areprovided with a series of detachable circular panels or knock-outs 110which, when removed, permit the conducting wires or conduits to enterthe casing at any point desired. One advantage of this construction isthat the terminals of one branch circuit may be connected to the mainline, while the terminals of the other branch circuit and the originalmain line terminals 26 would be connected to the two branch circuits. Itwill be evident that this arrangement will provide fuse protection inthe main line and in either one-of the branch circuits.

The switch box is so constructed that the main line and branch circuitscan be connected to the switch in various ways; thus,

the main circuit or one branch circuit may be connected without fuseprotection, or one branch circuit may be supplied with current directlywithout switch control. It will be understood, however, thatvarious-other arrangements may be provided.

A further advantage of the present invention lies in the fact that theswitch blades of illustration only, and that the invention is not to belimited to the specific disclosures but may be modified and embodied invarious other forms without departing from its spirit. In short, theinvention includes all the modifications and embodiments coming withinthe scope of the following claims.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new andfor which it is desired to secure Letters Patent, is:

1. In a switch box, a casing, a base of insulating material mounted insaid casing, a horizontally-swinging double-pole switch on said base,means on said base for electrically connecting said' switch to the mainline and to pair of branch circuits respectively, a sealing platecovering said base, a fuseholding block. of insulated materialprojecting up through said sealing plate. and means for connecting saidfuses into one of said branch circuits.

2. In a switch box, a casing, an insulating base mounted in said casing,a horizontallyswinging double-pole single-throw switch ivotally mountedon said base, said switch having a pair of movable contacts and a pairof stationary contacts, means for connecting the movable contacts ofsaid switch to the main line, means for connecting each of thestationary contacts toa plurality of branch circuit conductors, wherebycurrent will be delivered simultaneously to a plurality of circuits, andmeans adapted to selectively extend out of said casing for operating theswitch from either side of said casing.

3. In a switch box, a casing, an insulating base mounted in said casing,a double-pole single-throw switch pivotally mounted on said base, saidswitch having a pair of movable contacts and a pair of stationarycontacts, the arms of said switch being adapted to swing in a planeparallel to said base, means for connecting the movable contacts of saidswitch to the main line, means for connecting each of the stationarycontacts to a plurality of branch circuit conductors, whereby currentwill be delivered simultaneously to a plurality of circuits, and meansadapted to selectively extend out of said .casing for operating theswitch from either side of said casing.

4. In a switch box, av switch comprising a pair of horizontally-movablecdntacts and a pair of stationary contacts, means for connecting saidmovable contacts to the main line conductors, each of said stationarycontacts being connected to an upstanding socket, a pair of terminalsockets spaced from said first mentioned sockets, and a fuseholdingblock having four depending metallic prongs arranged at the corners of arectangle adapted to fit into said sockets for electrically joining saidfirst mentioned sockets with said terminal sockets and for furnishingfuse protection to the branch circuit connected therewith.

5. In a switch box, a switch comprising a pair of horizontally movablecontacts and a pair of stationary contacts, means for connecting saidmovable contacts to the main line conductors, each of said stationarycontacts being connected to an upstanding socket comprising a U-shapedclip, a pair of terminal sockets spaced from said first men tionedsockets, and a fuse-holding block having four depending metallic prongsarranged at the corners of afrectangle adapted to fit into said socketsfor electrically joining said first mentioned sockets with said terminalsockets and for furnishing fuse protection to the branch circuitconnected therewith.

6. In a switch box, a casing, an insulating base mounted in said casing,a two-pole switch supported on saidbase, said switch having a pair ofhorizontally movable contacts and a pair of stationary contacts, saidmovable contacts being connected to the main line terminals, saidstationary contacts being connected to a pair of upstanding sockets. asecond pair of sockets connected to the terminals of a branch circuit, adetachable fuse-holding block having depending contacts for engaging insaid sockets for electrically connecting each pair of sockets and forfurnishing fuse protection to the branch circuit.

7. In a switch box, a casing, an insulating base mounted in said casing,a two-pole switch supported on said base, said switch having a pair ofhorizontally movable contacts and a pair of stationary contacts, saidmovable contacts being connected to the main line terminals, saidstationary contacts being connected to a pair of upstanding sockets, asecond pair of sockets arranged in alinement with said first pair ofsockets and connected to the terminals of a branch circuit, a detachablefuse-holding block having depending contacts for engaging in saidsockets for electrically connecting each pair of sockets and forfurnishing fuse protection to the branch circuit.

8. In a switch box, a casing, an insulating base mounted in said casing,a two-pole switch supported on said base, said switch having a pair ofhorizontally movable contacts and a. pair of stationary contacts, saidmovable contacts being connected to the main line terminals, saidstationary contacts being connected to a pair of upstanding sockets, asecond pair of sockets connected to the terminals of a branch circuit, adetachable fuseholding block having depending contacts for engaging insaid sockets for electrically connecting each pair of sockets and forfurnishing fuse protection to the branch circuit, and an aperturedsealing plate for holding said fuse block in position, said fuse blockextending up through said sealing plate.

9. Ina switch box, a casing, an insulating base mounted in said casing,a two-pole switch supported on said base, said switch having a pair ofhorizontally movable contacts and a pair of stationary contacts, saidmovable contacts being connected to the main line terminals, saidstationary contacts being connected. to a pair of upstanding sockets, asecond pair of sockets connected to the terminals of a branch circuit, adetachable fuseholding block having'depending contacts for engaging insaid sockets for electrically connecting each pair of sockets and forfurnishing fuse protection to the branch circuit, an apertured sealingplate for holding said fuse block in position, said fuse block having aneck portion extending up through said sealing plate, and means on saidcasing for releasably locking said sealing plate in position.

10. In a switch box, a casing, an insulating base mounted in saidcasing, a two-pole switch supported on said base, said switch having apair of horizontally movable contacts and a pair of stationary contacts,said movable contacts being connected to the main line terminals, saidstationary contacts being connected to a pair of upstanding sockets, asecond pair of sockets connected to the'terminals of a branch circuit, adetachable fuseholding block having depending contacts for engaging insaid sockets for electricallytendmg inwardly from the walls of, said casing, and bein locked by a corresponding number of late ing lugs pivotedto said plate and adapted when in latched position to be engaged bymeans projecting from said cas 1n I1. In a switch box, a casing, aninsulating base mounted in said casing, a twopole switch supported onsaid base, said switch having a pair of horizontally movable contactsand a pair of stationary contacts, said movable contacts being connectedto the main line terminals, said stationary contacts being connected toa pair of upstandin sockets, a second pair of sockets connecte to theterminals of a branch circuit, a detachable fuse-holding block havingdepending contacts arranged at the corners of a rectangle for engagingin said sockets for electrically connecting each pair of sockets and forfurnishing fuse protection to the branch circuit, means on said casingfor releasably locking said fuse block in position, and means extendingthrough the wall of said casing for sealing said plate in lockedposition.

12. In a switch box, 'a casing, an insulating base mounted in saidcasing, a twoole switch supported on said base, said switch having apair of horizontally movable contacts and a pair of stationary contacts,said movable contacts being connected to the main line terminals, saidstationary contacts being connected to a pair of upstanding sockets, a

second pair of sockets connected to the terminals of a branch circuit, adetachable fuseholding block having depending contacts arranged at thecorners of a rectangle for engaging in said sockets for electricallyconnecting each pair of sockets and for furnishing fuse protection toeach side of the branch circuit.

In testimony whereof, I have affixed my signature to this specification.

JOHN B. MILANO.

